The Social Democrats have announced a strategy to tackle violence in Dublin city.
TD Gary Gannon who represents Dublin Central and is the party’s justice spokesperson, said “as violence increases on our streets, this government seems to see crime as something to be responded to after the fact.”
He said that the government’s approach to tackling violence has been a “demonstrable failure.”
“Ensuring safety on our streets is a key duty of any government, not some optional extra.”
He said that Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan needs to do more than merely diagnose the problem, with both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael having run the country jointly since 2020.
“We need a coordinated multi-agency strategy to reduce violence, one that follows international best practice and backed up with a significant budget. Following a spate of recent high-profile incidents, it is clear that a renewed approach is required if we are to create a safer Dublin,” Gannon said.
“Our proposed strategy ensures a comprehensive and balanced response to knife crime and violence in our capital city, combining immediate interventions, long-term prevention, community-led solutions, and fair enforcement.”
Gannon said that the issue was just as much a public health issue as it was a justice one, and pointed to the success of the Glasgow Violence Reduction Unit as an example of what has been done elsewhere.
“By adopting a public health approach, along with policing solutions, we can reduce street violence in Dublin, create safer public spaces, and protect vulnerable groups,” he said.
The Soc Dems document proposes an increase in the Garda presence at high-risk locations, including public transport hubs, nightlife districts, and areas with high rates of assault, the creation of a new National Transport Policing Unit to patrol DART, Luas and bus services and stations, as well as mainline rail services, the creation of a Dublin City Council community engagement team, launching a city-wide knife crime awareness and amnesty campaign. and investing in sports programmes, arts initiatives, and employment pathways for at-risk youth.
Among the other Social Democrats’ suggestions are an expansion of youth diversion programmes to provide rehabilitation rather than custodial sentences for first-time offenders, introducing introduction of structured community service orders focused on desistance from crime, conflict resolution, and victim-awareness training, the development of of restorative justice programmes where victims or community representatives can meet offenders to address and repair the harm was done
They said that Ireland needs to adopt a criminal justice system that is more “victim-centred.”